Bylaws

Article 1. Name, Purpose and Membership

Section 1: The name of this organization shall be Green Party of Louisiana. ("Party").

Section 2: We the people of Louisiana institute these Louisiana Green Party Bylaws to provide guidelines that will facilitate the development of a new and vibrant political entity based on the "four pillars" of the International Green Party movement (ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and non-violence) in the spirit of the following Quality of Life Statement:

"Our overall goal is not merely to survive, but to share lives that are truly worth living. We believe the quality of our individual lives is enriched by the quality of all of our lives. We encourage everyone to see the dignity and intrinsic worth in all of life, and to take the time to understand and appreciate themselves, their community and magnificent beauty of this world."

Section 3: Membership is open to any Louisiana resident who is not a registered member of another recognized political party, who supports the Party and its purpose, who completes and submits an approved Green Party of Louisiana membership form or completes and submits a Louisiana voter registration card with green as party affiliation, and who is in general agreement with the following Ten Key Values:

Ecological Wisdom

Social Justice

Grassroots Democracy

Nonviolence

Decentralization

Community-Based Economics

Feminist Values and Gender Equity

Anti-Racism and Respect for Diversity

Personal and Global Responsibility

Future Focus and Sustainability

Section 4: Each party member is entitled to participate in the official organization and activities of the Party to the full extent provided in these Bylaws and Rules.

Article 2: Party Organization

Section 1: The party is established as a direct, participatory democracy. One person, one vote - all members are encouraged to vote and participate at all State and local meetings in accordance with the appropriate Bylaws.

Section 2: The party will be coordinated by a coordinating committee (CC) with the duties and membership set below.

(a) The CC shall be composed of members selected by the locals and at-large membership. Each local and the at-large membership shall select up to 4 representatives to sit on the CC.

(b) A local is meant to represent the interests of Party members residing in a single parish or neighboring parishes. Therefore, a local is defined as a community of five or more Green Party of Louisiana members who: reside in the same or neighboring parishes, adhere to the Ten Key Values, and vote to affiliate with the Green Party of Louisiana. The CC shall recognize one local per parish. However, if there are multiple locals who desire to cover the same parish, the proposed locals shall petition the CC, and together, the petitioners and the CC shall develop a plan of representation for the area that shall be presented at the next state convention for ratification by the Party membership.

(c) The at-large membership is meant to represent the interests of Party members who are not affiliated with a local. Therefore, at-large membership is defined as Green Party of Louisiana members who: reside in a parish that is not covered by a local, adhere to the Ten Key Values, and choose to affiliate with the Green Party of Louisiana.

(d) CC members shall serve two-year terms but may not serve more than two consecutive terms. At each annual convention at which the terms of the CC members are set to expire, the locals and at-large membership shall present the representatives they’ve selected to sit on the CC. The CC shall coordinate the selection of representatives by the at-large membership prior to the annual convention.

(e) Vacancies in CC seats that occur between state conventions may be filled any time after vacancy occurs by a local or the at-large membership. Representatives appointed to vacant seats shall serve until the expiration of the term associated with the vacant seat.

(f) The CC shall have the following officers: two Co-chairs, Secretary, Treasurer, and up to two Representatives to the National Committee of the Green Party of the United States. Officers shall serve two-year terms and shall be elected by the party membership at the annual convention from the representatives sitting on the CC. If there is a vacancy in an officer position between annual conventions, the CC shall select an interim-officer to fill the seat until the next annual convention, at which time, the Party members shall elect an officer to fill the vacated seat for the remainder of the term.

Section 3: Meetings of the CC shall be held at least quarterly, or as necessary as determined by request of a majority of the committee.

(a) The CC shall strive to meet in person but may also meet by conference call or videoconference. Call for votes may be conducted in person, via phone or email. All CC members shall be notified of all quarterly meetings at least two weeks in advance. The CC members should strive to encourage their constituencies to attend meetings as non-voting participants.

(b) For decision making, the CC will strive for consensus. Failing the ability to reach unanimous consensus, decisions shall be made by a simple majority of CC members voting. Minutes of meetings shall be available to constituency.

(c) The presence in person, conference call, or videoconference of at least a SIMPLE majority of the CC shall constitute a quorum.

(d) The failure of a CC member to attend two consecutive CC meetings shall constitute an automatic resignation from the CC and a vacancy in such CC member’s seat.

(e) The duties of the CC shall be, but shall not be limited to:

Implement within those guidelines developed at the State Convention (an) appropriate process(es) to grow the Party throughout the respective parishes and regions.

Develop the CC's operational procedures.

Oversee the state-level finances.

Represent state-wide interests.

Make interpretations of the state Party's organizational documents.

Appoint committees as necessary, including representatives to national committees.

Choose the delegates and alternates to conferences and assemblies.

Develop those policies that may require state-wide coordination and administrative efforts.

Institute a network to facilitate the free flow of communication between the various member organizations within the State.

Take action and make policy deemed necessary and proper to carry out the foregoing duties.

To develop new locals in underrepresented areas.

Maintain ballot status with the Secretary of State.

Establish duties and responsibilities of individual offices.

(f) Vacancies - Vacancies of the CC shall arise when any of the following occur:

The death of a member

Expiration of a member's term

The resignation of a member

Recall by the body that elected the CC member.

As provided elsewhere in these bylaws (e.g. automatic resignation)

Article 3: State Convention/Nominations

Section 1: A State Convention/Gathering shall be held every year. The CC will call for the State Convention.

The CC shall be charged with planning the logistics of the convention.

Section 2: In the event that the CC fails to meet as required by these bylaws or fails to set a convention date, time, and place in any calendar year; a petition signed by the number equal or above the convention members present at the previous convention, and letter to the previous Secretary shall be sufficient to initiate convention planning meetings composed of signers of the petition so long as the meeting times and places are announced on the Green Party of Louisiana website.

Section 3: Items to be addressed at a state convention include presentation of CC members, election of CC officers, treasury reports, policy discussions and proposed amendments, community building, networking, education, debate, deciding time and location of next State Convention, celebration and fun.

Section 4: The State Convention shall utilize a process to strive for the consensus process on all decisions with a simple majority fallback, unless specified otherwise (i.e. Selection of CC officers and amendments to the Bylaws).

Section 5: Nominations for Statewide Public Office: Any person seeking to be the Party nominee for statewide office shall be nominated at a State Convention. Each potential nominee shall be selected by written ballot by those in attendance.

Instant run-off process will be used if there are more than two (2) nominees per position.

Article 4: Affiliation

Affiliation with any national/international Green political organization may only be approved at a State Convention.

Article 5: Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of Party members at a State Convention. For purposes of determining what constitutes a two-thirds vote for or against any proposal or amendment, abstentions shall not be counted as votes cast.

Adopted September 2003Revised September 2004Revised September 2007Revised June 2008Revised January 2019